Good to be home

After nearly a month of volleyball matches away from home, the Central Lakes College Raiders returned to Brainerd Wed., Sept. 28 to open a nine-match homestand with a Northern Division win over Rainy River. CLC escaped with a 3-2 win over the International Falls team, giving the Raiders their third Division win against two losses thus far in the 2011 season. Scores were 25-15, 18-25, 18-25, 25-18, 15-10. It was the first match on the home court since Sept. 2, when the Raiders lost to Minnesota State Community and Technical College. Emily Weber and Melissa Widman both had 10 kills and Carlie Sweet nine. Abbi Knutson had 40 set assists. Sweet and Alanna Hansen put up five blockes apiece, Defensively, Crysta Christensen (pictured) dug out 17 and Hayley Hornick 15. CLC played 12 of the first 14 matches on the road and now has home-court competition through Oct. 12 with the visitors being Itasca Sept. 30 (6:30, Fond du Lac (noon) and Anoka Ramsey (4 p.m.) Oct. 1, Hibbing (5 p.m.) and the University of Minnesota-Morris JV (8 p.m.) Oct. 5, Vermilion Oct. 7 (6:30 p.m.), Mesabi Range Oct. 8 (noon), and Northland Oct. 12 (6:30 p.m.).

Rochester 12, CLC 2

In a showdown of unbeatens in the Minnesota College Athletic Conference, the host Rochester Yellowjackets prevailed, 12-2, over the 17th-ranked Central Lakes College Raiders on Sat., Sept. 24 in Rochester Regional Sports Stadium. It was the first loss in five games for the Raiders. Austin Manzey's punt block in the first quarter gave CLC a 2-0 lead that held up until the third quarter, when Rochester scored 9 points. The Yellowjackets added a fourth-quarter field goal to notch their fifth straight win. Caleb Leichtnam tied a Rochester school record with four interceptions for the 20th-ranked Yellowjackets. Cornerback BJ Hendrix added 3 interceptions for the winners. CLC managed just 85 yards rushing, but QB Carson Wessinger passed 20 times (64 yards) and Skyler Shearer 14 times (84 yards) along with Jared Hoemberg's 18-yarder to total 166 yards with eight different receivers through the air. On the downside, Shearer was picked four times and Wessinger twice = 6 interceptions. Taz Seibert threw once, also an interception (that's 7 total interceptions). CLC's stats show Rochester netted just 128 yards of offense compared with the Raiders' 251. Jordan Bialke and Matt Mogere each had a fumble recovery for CLC. Rochester also scored on a blocked punt safety. Rochester scored the only TD on a 25-yard pass in the third quarter. A short fourth-quarter field goal sealed the win for the Yellowjackets.Next: CLC (4-1) at MSCTC (Fergus Falls, Homecoming), Sat., Oct. 1, 1:30 p.m.

Raiders lose

THIEF RIVER FALLS — The Central Lakes College Raiders volleyball team fell in three sets to Northland Wed., Sept. 21. Scores: 19-25, 24-26, 16-25. Alanna Hansen had 8 kills, Abbi Knutson 27 set assists and 7 digs, and Hayley Hornick 13 digs. Melissa Widman added 2 kills and 7 digs. Crysta Christensen provided 3 kills 4 digs, and 4 ace serves. Betsy Helmeke had 2 digs. Carlie Sweet had 7 kills, 2 digs, and 2 blocks. Emily Weber had 3 kills and 1 block. Kaylie Hanson had 3 digs. Alice Widmark had 5 kills, 2 ace serves, 4 digs, and 1 block. The Raiders are 2-2 in the Northern Division of the Minnesota College Athletic Conference, 6-8 overall, and next play Rainy River at 6 p.m. Wed., Sept. 28 in the CLC gym.

CLC, Cederberg second

The Central Lakes College men's golf team finished second a the Spartan Invitational played at Pebble Lake Golf Course, Fergus Falls, on Monday, Sept. 19. The Raiders totaled 335 strokes on the par 72 lay-out, following the host Minnesota State Community and Technical College Spartans at 296. Hibbing was third. Cody Cederberg of CLC fired a 73 and tied for runner-up honors among the best individuals. Mitch Thorsen of M State was medalist at 71. Other CLC scores: John Sund, 84 (seventh); Morgan Quinn, 88 (12th); Nate Richards, 90 (13th); and Taylor Wilke, 95 (15th).

Cederberg medalist again

Cody Cederberg of Central Lakes College captured medalist honors for the third time this golf season at the Sept. 17 tournament held on Bobby's Course at Cragun's. He carded a 75 to edge Lucas Gervais of M State (77). The Spartans took the men's team title with 324, followed by CLC at 348, Rochester 350, and Mesabi Range 371. John Sund shot an 85, Nate Richards 91, Tayloy White 97, and Morgan Quinn 100 for CLC. On the women's side, Katie Tast of CLC fired a 111.

Volleyball team wins

The Central Lakes College Raiders volleyball team defeated Vermilion, 3-1, at Ely on Saturday, Sept. 17. Game scores were 15-25, 25-18, 25-16, 25-14. The win was the young team's second in three Northern Division matches on the road during the week. Alice Widmark (left) recorded 13 kills and six ace serves. Abbi Knutson put up 43 set assists, Melissa Widman nailed 15 kills, and Carlie Sweet supplied 11 kills. Haley Hornick was a defensive gem, digging the ball on 15 occasions, and Widman provided 12 digs of her own in the outstanding team effort. “We served well and that was encouraging,” said Coach Jane Peterson. “It’s a good thing Alice Widmark was there. She had a good game, and made a big difference." The Raiders, 6-7 overall, play at Northland Wednesday, Sept. 21.

Raiders remain unbeaten

The 19th-ranked Central Lakes College Raiders defeated Itasca, 25-6, Saturday, Sept. 17 at Findorff Field in Brainerd. It was their fourth straight win and sets the stage for the showdown at Rochester (4-0) next Saturday, Sept. 24. CLC scored its first TD on a three-yard plunge by Aaron White after the stage was set by Averey Duncan's 25-yard catch of a Carson Wessinger pass for a big first down. White added the PAT kick. Next came a 52-yard run by Taz Seibert to give the Raiders a 13-0 halftime lead. In the third quarter Wessenger found Maurice Baldwin on a short toss, and Baldwin got outside for a 56-yard scamper down the Itasca sideline. The Vikings answered with a one-yard pass from Brandon Welinski to Joe Bohaty to make it a 19-6 game. Duncan hauled in a short toss and broke loose for a 60-yard TD down the Raider sideline that ended the day's scoring in the third quarter. Penalties and a called-back fumble recovery score on a fumbled Itasca punt return kept the game closer than it might have been.

Volleyball team loses at Mesabi

The Central Lakes College volleyball Raiders lost a 3-1 Northern Division match to Mesabi Range at Virginia Friday, Sept. 16. Scores were 19-25, 24-26, 25-16, 19-25. Carlie Sweet finished with 10 kills and Melissa Widman tallied 25 digs but the Raiders couldn’t hold on to a lead in the second game and it cost them. CLC lost the first game but won the third before losing the final set. “The biggest thing in my mind is that we missed an opportunity to win the second game,” said Head Coach Jane Peterson. “We had a chance to win and we didn’t do it. It’s a learning process that we are still in. It’s hard to be patient but that’s what we have to do.” The Raiders took a 5-7 record into Saturday's match at Vermilion.

Raiders win at Hibbing

The Central Lakes College volleyball team defeated Hibbing in three straight sets Wednesday in North Division play. Freshman hitter-seter Abbi Knutson (left) of Watkins notched 37 set assists and freshman middle hitter Carlie Sweet of Brainerd knocked out 12 kills as the Raiders swept, 25-18, 25-21, and 25-19. Sophomore hitter-setter Melissa Widman of Blaine added 10 kills and 11 digs. CLC Coach Jane Peterson said: “We were confident and prepared for our first division match. We haven’t always been so confident and prepared. We had a good offensive game, which was not what I expected. Abbi did a good job of getting the ball to the right person." Other stats: Freshman outside hitter Crysta Christensen, Pine River, 6 kills, 2 ace serves, 8 digs; Carlie Sweet 5 ace serves, 2 blocks; Freshman outside hitter Kaylie Hanson, Pillager, 2 kills, 2 ace serves, 5 digs; Freshman outside hitter Alice Widmark, Brainerd, 1 ace serve; Freshman hitter-setter Alanna Hansen, Brainerd, 8 kills, 2 blocks. Division: CLC 1-0. Overall: CLC 5-6. Next: CLC vs. Mesabi Range at Virginia 6:30 p.m. Friday.

Men's team fourth

The Central Lakes College men's golf team finished fourth in a five-team, two-day Hibbing Invitational meet Sept. 11 and 12 at Giant's Ridge, Biwabik. Play occupied the Quarry and Legend courses, and the 36-hole team totals were 1. North Iowa Area Community College, Mason City, Iowa: 633; 2. Minnesota State Community and Technical College, Fergus Falls: 634; 3. Mesabi Range, 701; 4. CLC, 708; 5. Hibbing, no score. On the women's side, only NIACC fielded a full team. Raider men's individual scores: John Sund 79-85=164, Cody Cederberg 79-86=165, Nate Richards 83-87=170, and Morgan Quinn 103-106=209. Next up for CLC is a trip to Lake City Thursday to play the Jewel Golf Course in an event hosted by Rochester Community and Technical College with a tee time of 1 p.m.

Raiders ready for conference

The Central Lakes College volleyball Raiders have completed the "pre-season" tests against some strong opponents in preparation for the Northern Division campaign that starts Wednesday at Hibbing. Last Saturday the team challenged North Iowa Area Community College before narrowly losing, 25-20, 16-25, 10-15 at the Rochester Invitational. NIACC is a scholarship school, as are most of the other 14 teams in the event that drew competitors from five states. CLC had won one of three matches in the showcase on Friday and takes a 4-6 record into the 6:30 p.m. match vs. the Cardinals on Wednesday. Against NIACC, Melissa Widman stuffed nine kills, Crysta Christensen provided seven along with an ace serve and seven digs, Abbi Knutson had 11 digs and 20 set assists, and Hayley Hornick had 11 digs. CLC Head Coach Jane Peterson liked the energy. CLC's next home match is Sept. 28 vs. Rainy River.

Raiders win third

The Central Lakes College football team scored three second-half touchdowns to capture a 28-7 Minnesota College Athletic Conference win over Mesabi Range Saturday, Sept. 10 in Virginia. The Raiders are now 3-0 heading into a home game Saturday, Sept. 17 vs. surprising Itasca, (1:30 p.m., Findorff Field, Brainerd) which lost by only 20-10 on the road to powerful Rochester while CLC earned its victory. Carson Wessinger passed to Ryan Tri (left) for two of the scores (24 and 7 yards), and he tossed a third TD strike to Logan Baker (9 yards). Aaron White ran 2 yards for the other Raider score. Averey Duncan ran two conversions, but the kicking PAT came up empty. Wessinger ran the ball 13 times for 75 yards, and White finished with 74 on 22 carries. Taz Seibert averaged almost 6 yards per carry (35 yards, 6 carries). Jordan Hayes hauled in a pass worth 40 yards. The CLC defense held Mesabi to 139 yards and one third-quarter TD, according to Raider stat-keepers, while the winners amassed 312 yards. Austin Manzey had an interception.

Raiders improve

In the first day of the Rochester Volleyball Invitational Friday, Sept. 9, Central Lakes College showed improvement against tough competition. The Raiders dropped their first match to nationally-ranked Indian Hills of Iowa, 13-25, 11-25. They bounced back to defeat Minnesota West, 25-23 12-25, 15-13. In the third match of the day, CLC nearly upset powerful Madison College of Wisconsin, losing 25-27, 25-23, 14-16. Melissa Widman had 20 kills and 26 digs, Alanna Hanson had 16 kills and seven blocks, Carlie Sweet had 12 kills, and Abbi Knutson put up 62 set assists. "A lot of things came together," said Head Coach Jane Peterson, who hopes the improved play indicates a breakthrough for the young Raiders who are maturing with each outing. CLC owns a 4-5 record as the Rochester meet continues today.

Cederberg wins again

Central Lakes College sophomore golfer Cody Cederberg of Hawley on Wed., Sept. 7 carded an 18-hole score of 70 strokes to win medalist honors for the second straight meet, and the Raider men (341) took second place behind the hot-shooting Minnesota State (317) unit from Fergus Falls. Mesabi Range finished third at 343, and Hibbing was fourth (370) at the Mesaba Country Club course. Other CLC scores in the Hibbing Invitational: John Sund 83, Nate Richards 94, Leighton Griffith 94. On the women's side, CLC freshman Katie Tast from Big Lake finished second with a 93. CLC travels to Giant's Ridge at Biwabik Sunday, Sept. 11 (1 p.m.) and Monday, Sept. 12 (8 a.m.) for competition at the Legends and the Quarry respectively. Besides CLC and host Hibbing, competitors include Minnesota State, Mesabi Range, Rochester, and North Iowa Area (Mason City).

Raiders win second game

The Central Lakes College football team is 2-0 after a 40-12 win vs. Northland at Findorff Field Saturday. QB Carson Wessinger (left) from the U.S. Virgin Islands led the attack, throwing three TD passes in his 17 completions to amass 193 yards through the air. He attempted 30. The defense also held tight in a goal-line stand to flex some muscle with reserves. Aaron White rushed 21 times for 90 yards and a TD as part of the 367-yard team offensive effort. One nifty play surprised the Pioneers, as Jared Hoemberg threw a 22-yarder to Gabe Eppert after faking a punt. Matt Mogere returned an interception 44 yards for one of three second-quarter scores as CLC led 33-12 at the half. Next: Sat., Sept. 10 at Mesabi Range, Virginia, 1:30 p.m.

Spartans defeat Raiders

Minnesota State Community and Technical College defeated the Central Lakes College volleyball team Friday, Sept. 2, 3-1. CLC started slowly, losing the first set, 17-25, before getting a 25-18 win. Then the Spartans captured the match with wins of 21-25 and 23-25 over the home team. Abbi Knutson managed 34 set assists, while Emily Weber served a pair of aces and produced 7 kills and one block. Carlie Sweet had 11 kills and 3 blocks, and Melissa Widman slapped 14 kills across the net. Hayley Hornick was the top digger with 12. The Raiders played better than they had in last Wednesday's win over St. Cloud, and improvement means the team has better das ahead, based on the assessment from Coach Jane Peterson. CLC has a 3-3 record.

Raiders win home opener

The Raiders escaped St. Cloud Technical College in the home volleyball opener Wednesday, Aug. 31, winning 3 of 4 games. Second-year veteran Melissa Widman (left) led the way with 13 digs, 10 kills, 2 ace serves and 2 blocks for the Raiders, who take a 3-2 record into their second straight home match on Friday, Sept. 2 vs. Minnesota State Community and Technical College of Fergus Falls. The three games the Raiders won featured multiple score changes, with the scored tied frequently, and neither team able to build more than a four-point lead, particularly because of service errors. CLC prevailed, 26-24, 14-25, 26-24, and 25-22 against the third-year STC Cyclones. Other CLC efforts: Abbi Knutson, 26 set assists and 11 digs; Haley Hornick with 12 digs; Crysta Christensen 7 kills, 3 ace serves, 9 digs.

CLC Photo by Mark Slupe. More images http://www.flickr.com/photos/58518185@N04/